Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Eugene Patrick Burns

Father Eugene Patrick Burns was a Catholic priest who was accused of sexually abusing at least two minors, one in the 1960s and one in 1985. Despite these allegations, records indicate that Burns retired in good standing with the church in 1992. The first allegations of sexual abuse did not arise until 2004. 

• Primary Entity Name: Eugene Patrick Burns
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Eugene Patrick Burns, Fr. Eugene, Fr. Burns, Eugene Burns
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased (2005)

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Father Eugene Patrick Burns, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Decades passed before the abuse committed by Eugene Patrick Burns was reported. By the time he died in 2005, there had been no official repercussions against him during his ministry. The following entities have since identified Burns as a sexually abusive priest:

• The Archdiocese of Chicago, on March 20, 2006
• The Office of the Attorney General, in 2023, via the report on clergy abuse

Burns was included in these lists due to substantiated claims of sexual abuse against minors. In this case, the abuse occurred in the 1960s and 1985, but neither was reported until 2004. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1955 in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Years in Active Ministry: 1955-1992 (roughly 38 years)

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Chicago (Hazel Crest, Glenview, Chicago, Homewood, Alsip, Calumet City, Riverdale, and Lansing), Diocese of Gary (Hammond)

Restrictions: None

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: N/A

Public Disclosure: 2006 in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago, IL

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1955 – Ordained in the Archdiocese of Chicago

1955-1961 – St. Anne’s in Hazel Crest, IL

1961-1966 – St. Catherine Labourne in Glenview, IL

1966-1968 – St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Chicago, IL

1968-1973 – St. Denis in Chicago, IL

1973-1979 – St. Joseph’s in Homewood, IL

1979-1980 – St. Terrence in Alsip, IL

1980-1981 – Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City, IL

1981-1984 – Queen of Apostles in Riverdale, IL

1985-1992 – St. Ann’s in Lansing, IL

1992-2005 – Retired

Non-Church Assignments:

1989-1992 – St. Margaret Hospital and Health Centers in Hammond, IN (chaplaincy)

Known Allegations

According to one of the victims of Burns’s abuse, he first mistreated a minor in the 1960s. Peggy Huff was just eight years old when Burns began abusing her in Glenview, where he was assigned to St. Catherine Labourne. The abuse took place over several years, based on Huff’s account, and she claimed he threatened to harm her brothers if she told anyone about the abuse. 

In 1985, while Burns was assigned to St. Ann’s in Lansing, Burns sexually abused another victim, though there are fewer details about the incident that occurred in Chicago. In both cases, the church reports that it was unaware of the misconduct at the time. 

The Office of the Attorney General in Illinois states that the first reports of sexual abuse were made in 2004. Additionally, Eugene Patrick Burns was named in a 2005 lawsuit that included 24 victims abused by 14 priests. He died in 2005, having retired from ministry in 1992. It does not appear that he faced repercussions from the church during his lifetime. 

In 2006, the Archdiocese of Chicago released a list of credibly accused priests who had served in the area. This list included Burns. Additionally, when a report came out in 2023 from the Attorney General’s office about accused clergy members in Illinois, Burns was identified for abusing two victims. 

Summary: Reports indicate that Eugene Patrick Burns first abused a young girl for several years in the 1960s and another victim in 1985, but he was allowed to retire in 1992 before facing any institutional actions because the allegations came out in 2004. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• Archbishop Samuel Stritch (1939-1958)
• Archbishop Albert Gregory Meyer (1958-1965)
• Archbishop John Cody (1965-1982)
• Archbishop Joseph Bernardin (1982-1996)
• Archbishop Francis George (1997-2014)

Associated Organizations:

St. Margaret Hospital and Health Centers

Institutional Actions and Review

Father Eugene Patrick Burns had a long ministry career after his ordination in 1955. He was assigned to numerous parishes and educational institutions, and to a hospital at the end of his career. However, in 2004, allegations arose about his misconduct with multiple minors during his ministry assignments. 

Peggy Huff was just eight years old when Burns began abusing her in Glenview. Her story was not disclosed until 2004, when a class action lawsuit was filed against multiple priests. Huff stated that Burns had threatened to hurt her brothers if she told anyone about the abuse. 

In 1985, Burns allegedly abused another underage victim in Chicago. Again, allegations reportedly did not come to the church until the mid-2000s. Since Burns died in 2005, records indicate that the church took little action against him during his lifetime.

Instead, Burns was publicly identified as a substantiated sexual abuser by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2006. He was included on this list of credibly accused Illinois priests because the church deemed the allegations to be legitimate. 

Timeline

1955 – Ordained in the Archdiocese of Chicago

1955-1992 – Assigned to various parishes and other ministries, mostly in Illinois

1961 – Assigned to St. Catherine Labourne in Glenview, IL

1960s – Sexually abused Peggy Huff, beginning when she was eight years old

1985 – Sexually abused another underage victim

1992 – Retired from ministry

2004 – Allegations of sexual abuse by Burns are reported

2005 – Burns died

2005 – A class-action lawsuit by multiple victims names Burns as one of numerous sexually abusive priests

2006 – The Archdiocese of Chicago includes Burns on its list of credibly accused priests

2023 – The Office of the Attorney General in Illinois releases its report on clergy abuse in the state, identifying Eugene Patrick Burns as a credibly accused priest

Speak With an Attorney

Navigating a civil lawsuit alone as a victim of clergy abuse can be extremely challenging. At the Injury Lawyer Team, we provide compassionate legal support for survivors of sexual abuse so they have a chance to seek justice and fair compensation for their legal damages. We know what it takes to build a strong claim and hold an individual abuser or negligent diocese responsible. 

Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church and diocesan disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including:

• A list of the archbishops of Chicago
• A profile of Eugene Patrick Burns from Bishop Accountability
• The Attorney General’s office’s information on Eugene Patrick Burns
• The Attorney General’s 2023 report on clergy abuse
• A list of Burns’ assignments from Bishop Accountability
• A press release from ABC 7 on the lawsuit against multiple Illinois priests

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.